Ellicott City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.9 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
405.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.45
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Ellicott City, your appliances are currently losing 23% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Ellicott City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -53% |
| Washing Machine | 7.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -39% |
| Water Heater | 8.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -41% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Ellicott City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ellicott City, Maryland | 169.5 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Ilchester, Maryland | 143 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Columbia, Maryland | 187 mg/L | 10.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Catonsville, Maryland | 119.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Milford Mill, Maryland | 190 mg/L | 10.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Ellicott City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ellicott City | 169.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Ellicott City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Ellicott City, Maryland, the Howard County seat on the Patapsco River in the Maryland Piedmont — one of America's oldest industrial towns (site of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's first 13-mile stretch) — draws its municipal water supply from the Patuxent River and the Patapsco River watershed via the Howard County Department of Public Works and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) Patuxent Water Filtration Plant distribution, serving the Howard County Ellicott City area. Water hardness in Ellicott City measures 169.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
Ellicott City's hard supply reflects the WSSC Patuxent supply distribution characteristics and Howard County's Piedmont terrain contribution. The Patuxent River at the WSSC intake drains the Maryland Piedmont's Triassic–Jurassic Newark Group (the Triassic Gettysburg Basin and Culpeper Basin calcareous red shale and argillite — one of the few calcareous rock units in the Maryland Piedmont) and the Precambrian–Ordovician Piedmont crystalline terrain (Glenarm Group phyllite, schist, and the Sykesville Formation — moderate calcium contribution). The Howard County WSSC distribution also includes distribution mains through the older Ellicott City main street corridor, where vintage cast-iron infrastructure in the historic downtown adds moderate mineral content to the 169.5 mg/L finished supply.
At 169.5 mg/L, Ellicott City residents face regular hard water challenges. Scale deposits form on faucet aerators, showerheads, and appliances within weeks — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is standard maintenance. WSSC Water and Howard County Department of Public Works consistently deliver water meeting all Maryland MDE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Patuxent River via the Howard County Department of Public Works Water Division — the Maryland Piedmont Patuxent River (Precambrian–Ordovician Piedmont crystalline and Triassic–Jurassic Newark Group calcareous basin of Howard County) and WSSC Water Patuxent plant distribution; hard supply at 169.5 mg/L in Howard County.